—Accuses NASS of oversight failure
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA — The Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, has urged the Federal Government to immediately release funds for the implementation of the 2026 capital budget, warning that continued delays undermine the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the Appropriation Act.
The organisation made the demand in an open letter to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele.
The letter, signed by CSJ Lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, was dated September 9, 2026, and received at the minister’s office yesterday. Similar letters were addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
CSJ called on the Finance Minister to publicly explain the continued delay in releasing funds for capital projects, citing Section 48(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which provides for transparency and timely disclosure in public financial management.
The organisation also demanded the immediate release of all outstanding funds required to fully implement the carried-over 2025 capital budget and the 2026 capital budget.
It argued that Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, provides for annual budgets to be implemented within the fiscal year for which they are approved.
CSJ consequently described the practice of extending capital budget implementation into subsequent years as an aberration that creates uncertainty and delays in public financial management.
It said: “A conspicuous part of the yearly Appropriation Acts, reproduced in the 2026 Appropriation Act in line with the Financial Year Act and the interpretation of Section 318 of the Constitution, provides that appropriated sums are available for expenditure between January 1 and December 31 of every year, and no part of the amount appropriated shall be released from the Consolidated Revenue Fund after the end of the financial year.”
The organisation added: “The continuous extension of the fiscal calendar for the implementation of capital votes is an aberration that introduces uncertainty and tardiness into public finance management.”
CSJ also cited Section 30 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which mandates the Minister of Finance, through the Budget Office of the Federation, to monitor and evaluate budget implementation and report quarterly on fiscal performance.
According to the organisation, available information indicates that the carried-over 2025 Federal Capital Budget had not been fully released and cash-backed, with most Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, receiving less than 50 per cent of the funds required to execute outstanding capital projects.
It further alleged that no funds had been released for the implementation of the 2026 Federal Capital Budget despite the year being in its ninth month.
“Not a single kobo has been released for the implementation of the 2026 Federal Capital Budget. September, being the ninth month of the year, should ordinarily mark the final phase of implementing the budget,” it said.
CSJ faults National Assembly
The organisation also accused the National Assembly of failing to exercise its constitutional oversight powers by compelling the Executive to implement duly approved Appropriation Acts.
“The National Assembly has failed, refused and neglected to exercise its oversight powers to compel the Executive to fully implement the capital components of the 2025 Appropriation Act and commence implementation of the 2026 Appropriation Act,” CSJ alleged.
It said the situation had persisted since 2023, alleging that successive budgets had not been effectively implemented within the fiscal years for which they were approved.
CSJ argued that there was no justification for the delay, particularly in view of what it described as improved government revenues since 2023.
The organisation cited reports that the Nigeria Revenue Service generated N21.6 trillion in the first half of 2026, compared with N14.27 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, representing an increase of about 50 per cent.
It also noted that the Federal Government still had unused borrowing approvals from the National Assembly, while savings from the removal of fuel subsidy had, according to it, further strengthened government finances.
“CSJ therefore finds it extremely strange that Federal Capital Budgets remain unimplemented when available evidence points to the availability of resources.
“Did the Federal Government warehouse 2025 revenues for the implementation of the carried-over budget in 2026? Is it also warehousing 2026 revenues for implementation next year?” the organisation asked.
CSJ warned that continued delays in releasing capital funds could worsen economic hardship and limit the delivery of critical infrastructure and public services.
“Nigerians are beginning to feel that there is a deliberate attempt by the Federal Government to intensify hardship, suffering and misery by failing to implement capital budgets,” it said.
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